Baby By Accident: International Billionaires III: The Italians by Caro LaFever Read Free Book Online Page B

caring met hers. “We’re in this together.”
    “We’re here for you, Lise,” Suz said from behind her.
    “I know, I know.” She allowed Tracy to tug her into her arms. Her other friend came from behind to join in the hug. Bittersweet emotion swamped her and the tears threatened to fall once more. “I’m just…”
    “Scared,” Tracy murmured in her ear. “We’ll figure it out, though.”
    Their assurance comforted her, but the thought of being pregnant, much less pregnant with Vico Mattare’s baby, was enough to get her thinking about jumping off cliffs or slicing her wrists. Too awful. Too unbelievable.
    Too real.
    Unprotected sex meant danger. She'd known that. Known she should go to the doctor and get examined, not only for pregnancy but for disease. After all, the man was a walking sex machine and probably had unprotected sex with women from here to Italy. Nevertheless, she'd stalled, hid, ignored. Pretended to herself the night had been some figment of her imagination, like the other dreams she'd had of him before.
    Before the night of reality.
    Also, she’d been a bit busy. Busy doing things like canceling a wedding. Returning gifts. Consoling her inconsolable mother. Ignoring Robert’s withering emails about returning various presents he’d given her during the course of their courtship. Oh, yeah. And busy dealing with the inexplicably angry Italian in her work life and his nefarious plans she kept pushing back on.
    Too, too busy to confront any repercussions from the night she'd gone off the rails and landed in disaster.
    Up until a week ago.
    When she'd been late.
    She’d known, even before purchasing the pregnancy kits—all five of them. As if taking the test over and over would somehow give her a different answer. An answer she already knew in her heart. She’d known as soon as her period hadn’t started on time. On time was her mantra. Not only at the office, but also in her personal life. Her body had always performed as expected.
    Except this month.
    “Come on.” Suz finally stepped back, her voice bright. “Let’s go make some tea and figure out what’s next.”
    Within a few minutes, she’d been hustled into her sterile kitchen and plopped onto a chair behind the steel countertop. Her friends’ worried faces stared at her from across the counter.
    “I’ll be okay,” she managed.
    “Of course.”
    “Never had a doubt.”
    Suz placed a cup of steaming hot tea in front of her.
    “I’ll figure something out,” she stated.
    “Sure.”
    “You always do.”
    Tracy fiddled with the sugar canister.
    She slumped. “This is awful.”
    “A surprise, certainly.”
    “It could be worse.” Suz’s broad Cockney accent was laden with irony.
    Lise’s spine straightened in disbelief. “How could it possibly be worse?”
    “The baby could be Robert’s.”
    A tense silence bounced between them. Neither of her friends had been keen on Robert. Still, they’d gone along with her when she announced the engagement because she’d been so sure. Sure she’d found the man who fit her. Sure she’d be happy with his refined, courtly manner. Absolutely sure, she’d told them.
    “That would have been far worse.” Tracy braved her chilly silence, agreeing with Suz.
    A sudden rasp of laughter erupted from Lise’s mouth.
    Her friends grinned back at her.
    This was perfectly horrid, and yet, yet, they were both right. She couldn’t imagine carrying Robert’s child. Couldn't imagine calling him on his honeymoon to deliver the news.
    She knew what he’d say. Get rid of it .
    The thought hit her with a blunt blow. A moment of crystal-clear awareness.
    A baby. Her baby. A tiny, precious gift. A small, little person she could love with everything inside her. Someone who would love her back unconditionally. “I'm going to have this baby.”
    Her two friends stared at her. Then their grins widened.
    “Oh, man,” Tracy snickered. “Your mother is going to go nuts.”
    “Her mother is going to